Vegan inspirations by the four winds

Tag Archives: Munich

Germany is definitely THE country of christmas markets. Weihnachtsmarkt, or Christkindlmarkt, as they are often called here. We thought that before leaving Munich, it might be fun to give you a glimpse into the Christmas markets here. So we sacrificed ourselves, visited about twenty out of the dozens of festive markets in the city, and we’ve created a gallery of our top 10 for you. :)

10. Mittelalterlicher Weihnachtsmarkt

One I was very intrigued about was the medieval market. I was not impressed by this one, maybe because of the giant pig they roast there day by day…

Medieval atmosphere.

Elixir.

Big pot of Feuerzangenbowle.

9. Neuhauser Weihnachtsmarkt

I observed that mostly young people hit this market. The mulled wine is cheap and it’s not overcrowded. Recommended if you don’t like too much glamour.

Glühwein.

Schokoladenwerkstatt – tools made of chocolate. How awesome is that!

Retro carousel.

8. Christkindl Markt am Marienplatz

The Christmas market in the very center of Munich. As I used to work nearby, and had to fight my day every day home through the crowds, I am probably not objective. I consider it expensive and shallow but the town-hall impresses my any time, Holiday season or not.

Münchner Christkindlmarkt

Do you like Stollen?

Marienplatz: town-hall with christmas tree.

I haven’t seen this anywhere else so far… Cranes decorated with christmas lights. Note, it also has decorated christmas trees on top.

7. Weihnachtsdorf in Residenz

This is my secret palace this year. Although I pass it quite often, I never knew about the royal palace. Only due to some visit from Hungary that I heard and investigated. A noble feeling indulging in the goodies in the middle of the palace. A not very touristy yet extremely overcrowded place, where the highlight for me was the “Story Forest”.

Can’t miss: a stand dedicated to the favourite German food – potatoes!!!

The most tempting item at the Münchner Christmas markets so far. Aren’t they beautiful?

Märchenwald (Story Forest). Can you recognize the fairytale?

Nutcracker.

Funny talking deer.

Residenz Palace

Weihnachtsdorf der Residenz

6. Weihnachtsmarkt am Chinesichen Turm

I loved this one!!! It was one of the first markets we have visited this year. The Chinesicher Turm (Chinese Tower) is actually a beer garden in Munich’s biggest park, the Englischer Garten. Being a weekday, it was very empty. So we had time to stroll between the stands and take some photos.

Weihnachtsmarkt am Chinesischen Turm

For small and big boys.

Winter and hot chestnuts are just a too good combination.

5. Tollwood

The not so typical christmas market takes place twice a year, in the winter it occupies the field where the Oktoberfest is held. Big and colourful, Tollwood started out as an organic-hippy festival with a lot of artisans many years ago. By now it became of course more commercial. Every year it has a tent for animal rights, this year there was a huge Hungarian statue next to the entrance. Among the christmas markets, this is the best for vegans, as it has its own vegan food tent with international cuisine from Morocco, Thailand, Turkey, Spain and Mexico. It was also at this festival we discovered our favourite substitute for mulled wine. ;)
Performances, talks, shows and concerts attract thousands of people every day.

The artsy little sister of Tollwood. Also very colourful and non-conventional. Exhibitions, art tent, food from Eritrea, a stand with mistletoe and jazz concerts make it worth to visit this Weihnachtsmarkt.

One of the exhibitions

Bohemian atmosphere

Eritrean cuisine.

Something I would hang above my fireplace.

3. Haidhauser Weihnachtsmarkt

Au-Haidhausen is my absolutely favourite district in Munich. It reminds me of Prenzlauer Berg in Berlin, the closest Munich gets to some burgois-alternative atmosphere. Mostly locals go for an afterwork drink to Weissenburger square. Local artists, kietz-kids and local soup. Simply charming!!

Haidhausen

Special jewellery

Lebkuchen time? If you are as unsuccessful with your ginger bread, as me, you might consider to buy it here.

Hüttenzauber with Santa rolling back and forth.

2. Pink Christmas

I discovered this by chance from the bus. I researched the name on the internet and it turned out that Munich also has a christmas market from/for gay people. This is Abel’s favourite. If it was due to the lecker Lumumba we drank or due to Chantall GPunkt’s enchanting performance… Just come here if you are tired from the regular christmas schnick-schnak. Or if you need some lubricant, zebra-striped pillow or a pink hot-water bottle.

Party feeling with travesti show

Chantall GPunkt singing

Angel stuck in the tree?

1. Weihnachtsmarkt (?) am Rindermarkt

This market is so small, I didn’t even see it on the map of christmas markets. Found also by chance, I enjoyed this one the most. It has only a few food stalls, some fireplaces where you can keep warm and a Christmas crib. Full with jolly people, that’s how I like it.

Our balcony garden has been a project with ups and downs. We can harvest some strawberries, cherry tomatoes, chillies, flowers and many herbs. Basil is one of the most proliferate ones.

Before the one-week-Munich Sommer terminates (this? summer???), we’ve collected some basil leaves and made a fast and easy pesto. With sesame seeds, as it has a lot of essential minerals, zinc, Vitamin E, antioxidants as we were to lazy to get out for pine nuts in the heavy rain. And because it’s cool like this!

Today we spent a lovely day relaxing at the Flaucher, Munich’s Sunday chill out area next to the river. This time we went to an island near our place. As this is a “kult” activity here, we also got inspired to invent some fast vegan snacks for a BBQ. I won’t share an exact recipe this time, but I hope our ideas and pictures will inspire you to try a barbecue without bones.

Flaucher BBQ & Speed Dog

We always make some Shashlik sticks in the first place. What we spear depends on what we have at home. Just to give you an idea, we mix:

Of course it needs some more taste than just salt. Therefore I make an oil to marinate the sticks while on the grill.
Ingredients also depends on the mood, but you can’t get wrong with adding:

oil

lemon juice

chilli

garlic

rosemary

black pepper

curry

salt

Veggie Shashlik

Also, lately we have come to like Tempeh – Indonesian fermented soy beans. It’s a delicious BBQ-ingredient. For this I either use the above oil to marinate it few hours in advance, or I make a little less healthy barbecue-sause, out of onions, Coca-Cola, ketchup and Chilli Chipotle. An image of the latter:

Marinated Tempeh

After a nice meal we miss something sweet to finish it up. For a BBQ, the easiest way is to grill some fruits. So tasty, as they become sweeter through loosing some water. Try out some of these combinations:

spear some strawberries on a branch of rosemary

finish the above with a vegan marshmallow

smoked watermelon is also delicious, just like that

or cut the surface of a half banana and stuff the slits with some basil leaves

Fruits usually need about 5-7 minutes on the grill.

Grill-fruit

Last but not least, don’t forget about potatoes!!! Cut some smaller potatoes in halves, cover it with oil, salt and rosemary. Wrap it into aluminium foil. We usually leave the packages below the coal, because they need more time then everything else all together, about 30 minutes. To be honest, today we topped it with some vegan vanilla ice-cream with peach and almond croccant. :P